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Tag Archives: nothing gained
Your yore on my mind
旧態依然 kyuu.tai.i.zen Literally: olden times – condition – depend on – “sort of thing” Alternately: Something remains as it was, without any development or progress. Unchanged… or even if it did change, not improved in any way as a result. … Continue reading
Can’t squeeze water from a boiling stone
焼け石に水 (Yakeishi ni mizu; “Water on a hot stone”) Definition: A situation where you shouldn’t expect much. A drop in the bucket. A negligible amount of aid or effort, like a little splash of water against a hot stone, which … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged 焼き石, 焼け石, hotshot, Kefukigusa, negligible, nothing gained
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Tiger ventured, tiger gained?
虎穴に入らずんば虎子を得ず (Koketsu ni irazumba koji wo ezu; “If you don’t go into a tiger’s lair you won’t get a tiger cub.”) Definition: Nothing ventured, nothing gained. You won’t succeed at anything special if you’re not willing to stick your neck … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged Book of the Later Han, classical grammar, 虎穴, 虎子, nothing gained, nothing ventured, tiger cub, tiger den, 入らずんば
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